Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-06-03
The Box in the Corner.

1t is some years since was station
master, baggage-agent, telegraph-opera-
tor and ticket-seller at little village
near some valuable oil wells. The sta
tion-house was quite distance from the
unpretentious thoroughfare that had
grown up in a day, and my duties were
so arduous that had scarcely leisure for
weekly fitting to certain mansion on
the hill where dwelt Ellen Morris. my
promised wife. In fact, it was with the
hope of lessening the distance between
US that had undertaken these quadru-
pie duties.
The day had been gloomy, and toward
the afternoon ominous rolls of thunder
portended storm.
Colonel Holloway, the well-known
treasurer of the oil company, had been
in the village several days. About one
o'clock he came hurriedly into the office
with a package, which he laid upon my
desk, saying;
"Take care of that, Bowen, till to-
morrow. I'm going up the road"
The commission was not an unusual
one, and my safe was one of Marvin's
best. | counted the money, which foot
ed up into thousands, placed it in the
official envelope, affixed the seals, and
deposited it in the safe. AS | turned
away from the lock, voice az the door
said:
"Say, mister, can you tell me the way
to the postoffice?
A sort of shock went through me at
the unexpected presence that seemed to
have dropped down from nowhere, and
replied, irritably:
"You could not miss it if YOU tried.
Keep straight ahead"
Soon large drops of rain came down,
then faster and more furiously, until
the air was one vast sheet of water, and
little rivers leaped madly along the gull
lies and culverts. Forked lightning
kept pace with the pealing thunder, and
heavens own artillery seemed let loose.
Anything more dismal or dreary could
not well be imagined, and gradually the
loneliness grew oppressive. Every
straggler had fled to shelter, and the
usual idlers had deserted the platform.
But resolutely set 10 work at the dry
statistics of the staton-books, with an
occasional call to the wires, which were
ticking like mad, so fierce was the elec-
trio current.
1t was near five o'clock when a long
freight train came numbering by,
switched off car or two, then dragged
its slow length onward. This created a
brief diversion, then once more | was
deserted.
The next passenger train was not due
till ten o'clock. lit the lamps and re-
signed myself with questionable pa
tience to my intervening hours. An
agreeable interruption came in the form
of my supper, which was brought in a
waterproof basket by sort of jack-at.
all-trades whom we called Jake. Shak-
ing himself like great dog, he "lowed
there want much water left up yonGer
nohow."
81 hope not, indeed" said, glad of
the sound of human voice. Jake J"
| called, as he left the office, "come
back as soon as you can-I may want
you."
had vague idea of dispatching some
sort of report to Ellen that had not
been entirely washed away, and obtain
ing similar comfort as to her own fate.
1 little thought that should need him.
think l am not By nature more timid
than other men, but as the dismal even
ing closed in ! took from my desk two
revolvers kept ready for possible emer-
gencies, and laid one upon the desk
where I was making freight entries,
and the other on the table where the
electric battery stood. At intervals a
fresh package for the night express was
brought by some dripping carrier, who
deposited it, got his receipt, hung about
for few moments, then FASTENED away
to more comfortable quarters.
Still the rain poured in torrents. 1t
,must have been nearly nine o'clock
when wagon, hurridly driven, stopped,
the door was flung open, and | saw a
small ambulance well-known about the
village. Two men sprang out, and,
with the aid of the driver and his assist
ant, proceeded TO lift out box which
from its dimensions could contain only
one kind of freight, ro-wit, the remains
of human being.
Carefully placing this box in re-
mote corner OF the room, near other
boxes awaiting transportation, the dri-
YER and his man returned TO their
wagon, while the two strangers ap-
preached the desk 10 enter their ghastly
freight. They wore slouched hats and
were very wet. They produced death
certificate OF one John Slate, who had
died ara farm house several miles away,
of non-contagious complaint, aud was
to be shipped to friends down the road.
This was all. There was nothing sim
gular about it, and yet, when the door
closed upon the strangers and | wai
| again alone, feeling OF awe came oyel
me. Clearly the storm had somewhat
unstrung me.
Only one hour till the train was due,
after which l could turn in for tho
night.
A louder peal Of thunder shook thu
| house, and fiercer flashed the lightning